Jules mlstieee



(No Model.)

UMBRELLA.

Patented Dec. 13,1881.

INVENTURI M WITNESSES'.

N. PEIYERS. PhoW-Lithogrnphen Wasimlgknlh D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULES MINIERE, PARIS, FRANCE.

UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,942, dated December 13, 1881. Application filed October 8, 1881. (No model.) Patented in France September 20, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULES MINIERE, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Paris. France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for releasing the runner from its retaining-spring through a slide at or near the handle, whereby the distended umbrella may be collapsed by the hand that grasps the handle, ifdesired, and without the necessity of reaching up to the runner for that purpose, all as will be more particularly hereinafter set forth, and defined in the claims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 shows the retaining-spring for the runner detached. Fig. 2 shows the retaining-spring and the operating-rod coupled thereto, and both detached. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper portion of the umbrellastick. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the forked core of the stick. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal mid-section of the tubular stick, taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the runner detached. Fig. 7 is asectional view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the runner and operating-slide in place. Figs. 8 and 9 are modified constructions, which will be referred to hereinafter.

A represents the tubular stick of an umbrella, and d the ferrule on the upper extremity of the same.

N is a fixed hinging-nut, to which are coupled or jointed the stirrups on the hinging ends of the ribs on which the cover is stretched. I have not considered it necessary to show the ribs or cover, as these form no part of my present invention.

R is the retaining-spring, of steel wire, to support the runner and keep the umbrella properly distended. This spring is of V shape, the ends of its branches being terminated by shouldered projections a a, formed by bending outward and inward the extremities of the wire, as clearly shown. This spring is inclosed in the hollow of the stick, and the shoulders a protrude through slots 0 c in the stick and through slots in a fixed sleeve, D, which em braces the stick at this point.

To the lower extremity, b, of the spring Ris coupled the operating-rod F, which extends down through the hollow of the stick and has a projection, f, which protrudes through a slot in the stick into a hollow cavity of a beaded tubular slide,V, which is capable of sliding up and down on the handle. When this slide is drawn down it engages the projectionfon the rod F,and draws the latterdown. This draws down the spring R, and the inclined under portions of the shoulders a wipe over the lower margins of the slots 6 and cause the shoulders to draw into the cavity of the stick by reason of the yielding of the branches of the spring. When the slide Vis released the elasticity of the spring causes it to quickly resume its normal shape and position, as shown in the figures. The moveinent of the spring up and down is limited by the length of the slotin the handle under the slide V, as will be readily seen.

0 is the runner, to which the lower ends of the braces (which distend the cover) are hinged. This is made of sheet metal, in two pieces, a: and y. The former is a tube with a curved flange turned outwardly at its top,which flange is slitted to form curved tongues z, which engage the loops or stirrups on the ends of the braces, and thus form hinges. 0n the part y is formed a projecting bead, w, for the fingers to take against in raising the umbrella, and a turn ed-in tube to embrace the tube on the part 00 when the two are fixed together in constructing the runner. This runner slides on the stick in the usual way, and when the umbrella is to be raised it is pushed up until it strikes the inclined parts of the shoulders a of the spring, when these yield and allow it to pass over them. Its progress is now stopped by a head, I, on the sleeve D, and the shoulders at, being freed, spring out into the hollow of the runner, and the latter rests upon them and is upheld by them, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. When it is desired to release the runner, so as to permit the cover to collapse, it is only nec essary to press down the slide V with two fingers of the hand holding the umbrella, or in any way, and the shoulders at will be retracted and permit the runner to escape.

"T is a forked core that may be inserted and fastened into the hollow of the stick at the upper end to give it additional strength. This core may or may not be employed. I have omitted it in Fig. 7. The slot is to permit free play of the spring.

The sleeve I) may be secured in place by a pin, g, as shown in Fig. 3; or in some cases it may be omitted entirely, and one or the other of the devices shown in Figs. 8 and 9 be employed to take the wear caused by the chafing of the spring on the lower margin of the slots 0. In Fig. 8 I have shown two metal strips, m m, fixed to the wooden stick below said slots. The lower ends of these are passed through the wall of the stick and clinched on the inside, as at 71, and the upper ends are bent inwardly over the rounded lower margins of the slots, as at p. In Fig. 9 I have shown two metal pins, 2' i, inserted in the stick at the inner corners of the lower margins of the slots. Where the stick is of metal neither of these devices need be employed.

I do not specifically claim herein the operating-rod F and slide V, as these are shown and claimed in a former application for patent made by me.

I prefer steel wire for the retaining-spring, but any suitable elastic material may be employed. Two shoulders, at, on the spring are not necessary, and one may be omitted. I prefer two, as providing a more even and firm support for the runner.

I am fully aware that it is not new to connect the ordinary retaining-spring of an umbrella to a bell-crank mounted in the stick, and to connect this crank by means of a wire extending through the hollow of the stick with another bell-crank in the stick near the handle, whereby the retaining-spring may be retracted and the runner released; and I do not claim this. My claim is limited to a spring arranged in the hollow of the stick and arranged to be drawn down inside of the stick by a wire or rod, the spring being retracted by drawing it into a more confined space. I thus dispense with bell-cranks entirely, and produce a more durable device at a less expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the tubular stick, of the retaining-spring arranged within the hollow of the same, and provided with projecting shoulders to engage and support the runner, the said runner, and means for drawing down the spring and releasing the runner, all arranged substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the tubular stick, the V-sha-ped spring It, provided with shoulders 0., arranged to protrude through slots in the stick, the runner formed to slide on the stick, and having a hollow or cavity to receive the shoulder a, the operating-rod F, coupled to the spring, and having a projection,f, and the slide V, all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the tubular stick A,-

the sleeve 1), provided with a bead, l, the spring R, rod F, slide V, and runner 0, all arranged substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the hollow stick of an umbrella or parasol, of the V-shaped retaining-spring arranged inside of said stick, and adapted to be retracted by being drawn down inside the same, the rod F, for drawing down the spring, the runner, and the operating-slide, all constructed and-arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULES MINIERE.

Witnesses:

R0131. M. HooPER, DE RoUGnMoN'r. 

